Market Trends of Small Wind Turbine Industry
The Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market
- A majority of small wind turbines manufactured today are horizontal-axis, upwind machines that have two or three blades, usually made of composite materials such as fiberglass.
- A horizontal axis wind turbine (HAWT) has its main rotor shaft and electrical generator at the top of the tower, and a simple wind vane is used to point the turbine toward or away from the prevailing wind.
- Small wind turbines consist primarily of horizontal axis wind turbines that have been in production for over three decades, whereas most small vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs) have been produced within the last decade. Due to the technological and economic advantages associated with the small HWAT, it receives considerable attention. In addition to low-cost wind energy generation, small horizontal axis wind turbines can be maintained easily and without a skilled workforce.
- Furthermore, there are two types of small HAWTs. The first is a typical three-bladed design, while the second is an aerodynamically complex, shrouded type. Both types have a similar rate power of approximately three kW.
- Among the advantages of small HAWTs is their tall tower bases, which allow them to gain greater access to wind at sites with wind shear (where variations in wind velocity occur at right angles to the wind direction and tend to exert a turning force). As a result of stronger wind access, power generation is likely to increase. This is likely to result in moderate deployment of these units during the forecast period.
- Small wind turbines are used throughout the developing and developed nations across the region and are used mainly in rural or remote settings. As per the historical data by the US Department of Energy in their Distributed Wind Market Report: 2022 Edition, the growth in the SWT market is restricted to countries like the United Kingdom, Denmark, Italy, and Germany.
- Furher, according to United States Department of Energy, the number of small wind turbine in united states reached 1,745 units in 2022.
- Therefore, owing to the above points, the horizontal axis wind turbine segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.
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Asia-Pacific is Expected to Dominate the Market
- Asia-Pacific dominated the wind power generation market in 2022 and is expected to continue its dominance in the coming years. The region holds vast potential for expanding the small wind turbine market, notably in the form of off-grid and residential-scale small wind turbines.
- Small wind turbines can run at wind speeds as low as two metres per second. They can be connected to the grid or be stand-alone systems and can also be hybridised with solar. They can be mounted on rooftops as well.
- Going ahead, China holds the largest wind power generation capacity globally, with 365.96 GW of installed capacity as of 2022. Also, the country installed 60 MW of small wind turbines in 2022, reaching a cumulative installed capacity of 704.32 MW. The country first introduced FiT from onshore wind in 2009; it currently offers FiT for small wind turbines ranging from USD 13.4-20.1 ct/kWh.
- Chinese small wind turbine application is shifting from rural electrification oriented to city streets illumination and telecom stand-alone power systems. It is developing rapidly in these new application fields.
- On the other hand, India holds the fourth-largest wind power installed capacity in the world. The country's wind power installed capacity stood at 41.9 GW as of 2022. As far as SWTs are concerned, almost all the systems installed in India today are off grid or stand alone. The state of Maharashtra has the majority of the SWT installations in the country. The otherwise 'windy' states like Tamil Nadu and Gujarat fair poorly in the SWT installations.
- Therefore, owing to the above points, Asia-Pacific is expected to dominate the small wind turbine market during the forecast period.
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